Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission - Convention Area

To ensure, through effective management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean in accordance with the 1982 Convention and the Agreement. WCPFC members are: Australia, China, Canada, Cook Islands, European Union, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Chinese Taipei, Tonga, Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu. Participating Territories are: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna. Cooperating non-members are: The Bahamas, Curacao, Ecuador, El Salvador, Liberia, Panama, Thailand, Vietnam

Species of Concern: Highly migratory fish, Albacore (Thunnus alalunga); Pacific Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus orientalis); Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii); Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus); Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis); Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares); Little Tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus); Frigate Mackerel (Auxis thazard); Pomfrets (Bramidae); Marlins (Istiophoridae); Sailfishes (Istiophorus spp.); Swordfish (Xiphias gladius); Dolphinfish (Coryphaenidae); Oceanic Sharks (Selachimorpha)

Restrictions

1. Core Conservation Principles
Members must:
- Ensure long-term sustainability and optimum use of highly migratory fish stocks.
- Base measures on best available science.
- Maintain or restore stocks to maximum sustainable yield (MSY) levels.
- Apply the precautionary approach.
- Protect marine biodiversity.
- Prevent overfishing and excess fishing capacity.
- Consider the needs of developing States and small island developing States.
- Take into account artisanal and subsistence fishers.
2. Ecosystem-Based Management
Members must:
- Assess impacts of fishing and other human activities on:
• Target stocks,
• Non-target species,
• Associated or dependent species.
- Minimize:
• Waste and discards,
• Lost/abandoned gear impacts,
• Pollution from fishing vessels,
• Bycatch of non-target and endangered species.
- Promote selective and environmentally safe fishing gear.
3. Data Collection & Transparency
Members must:
- Collect and share complete and accurate data on:
• Vessel positions,
• Catch (target and non-target),
• Fishing effort.
- Support research programs.
- Implement effective monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) systems.
4. Precautionary Approach Requirements
Members must:
- Establish stock-specific reference points.
- Take action if limits are approached or exceeded.
- Act cautiously when scientific information is uncertain.
- Adopt conservative measures for new or exploratory fisheries.
- Implement emergency measures when:
• Natural events harm stocks, or
• Fishing poses a serious sustainability threat.
5. Compatibility of Measures
- Measures in high seas and national waters must be compatible.
- Coastal State measures must not undermine Commission measures.
- Commission measures must not undermine coastal State measures.
- Cooperation is required to ensure stock-wide protection.
6. Enforcement Obligations
Each member must:
- Enforce Convention rules and conservation measures, including catch quotas, fishing effort caps, and species and gear specific management measures.
- Investigate alleged violations by vessels flying its flag.
- Report investigation progress and outcomes.
- Initiate proceedings where sufficient evidence exists.
- Detain vessels when appropriate.

Allowed

Please refer to each Member State's fisheries laws for further details.